Five changes for tonight’s Champions League play-off second leg against Hoffenheim
Liverpool Team: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Lovren, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Mane, Salah, Firmino.
Subs: Karius, Klavan, Gomez, Milner, Solanke, Robertson, Sturridge.
Liverpool vs Hoffenheim in the Champions League play-off 2nd leg kicks off at Anfield at 19:45 on Wednesday, 23 August.
James Holmes
It’s a strong starting lineup with Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in attack and back to playing 4-3-3 again. Should be enough to get the job done!
BAMozzy
Disappointed we have the same midfield that have been ‘absent’, lacking creativity and not picking up midfield runners when we don’t have the ball. Gini in particular has been poor
James Holmes
You’re right, Wijnaldum has been poor so far, need a big performance from him tonight! I was glad to see the rejuvenated Moreno but after Andy Robinson’s performance on Saturday I would have opted for Robertson tonight
Colin Hughes
Moreno ahead of Andy Robertson? Big call by Klopp.
BAMozzy
In fairness, he has done well thus far. I know Robertson did OK against Palace but he was called in to allow Moreno a rest for tonight. This is the team that started the first 2 matches and, with Palace in between, Klopp was able to rest TAA and Moreno as both have run and run in those two games.
In truth, I am more concerned about our ‘midfield’ and in particular, Gini who has been very poor so far. Hendo looks like he is playing his way back to fitness and Can seems unsure of where he fits in this line-up – should he be the one to push or hold deep… In the end, we lack midfielder support in both attack and defence. Its as if they are making up the numbers – expecting the defence to cope without them and our ‘3 attackers’ to create and score everything – despite the fact that the opposition has 4 defenders and 3-4 midfielders that ‘work’ to support ‘defence/attack as required – something our Midfield really need to do.
Without Lallana and/or Coutinho, our midfielders don’t know how to ‘create’ space/chances/score. Without Lucas, we don’t have a ‘holding’ midfielder and Hendo, our captain, doesn’t seem comfortable with organising the team or ‘leading’ by example – like Gerrard would. With Lallana and/or Coutinho, one of them can grab the game by the scruff of its neck and get the team on the front foot.
Its like we have Salah, Mane, TTA and Moreno so the rest can be ‘flat-footed’ and more static…